An Insight into Vietnam and Thailand in 11 Days

Welcome to Vietnam! Your adventure begins in Hanoi, the capital city with over 2,000 years of history, reflected in its renowned landmarks and historic neighborhoods. Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will take you to your hotel in the city. After checking in, you can relax and unwind after your long flight.

As evening falls, embark on a culinary exploration of Vietnamese cuisine. During this two-hour, our guide will take you to the city’s best street food spots. Start with a visit to Thanh Ha Market, where you can browse food stalls, sample local delicacies, and learn about Vietnamese culinary traditions. Then, head to Dong Xuan Market, known for its noodle shops, and enjoy treats such as pho sot vang (noodle soup with pork and herbs) and bun dau (tofu in soup with rice noodles and fermented shrimp paste).

Dong Xuan Market

Continue to Hanoi Old Quarter, where our guide will share insights into the city’s traditional celebrations as you stop at ceremonial cake stalls and taste French-influenced desserts. A stroll down Hang Cot Street, famous for its sugared and salted fruits, is another highlight. Conclude the tour at a local café, savoring a cup of slow-dripped coffee or a sweet iced drink while people-watching on Hanoi’s lively streets.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, and an English-speaking guide.

Start your journey of 11 days in Vietnam and Thailand with a full-day guided tour to explore Hanoi’s historic landmarks. Begin near Hoan Kiem Lake, located in the heart of the Old Quarter. Your first stop is Hang Be Market, a commercial hub for centuries where locals shop for fresh produce, meats, seafood, and more. The market also features vendors selling prepared foods and stalls offering Vietnam’s famous street eats, so be sure to come hungry.

Next, visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist shrine in Hanoi, dating back to the sixth century during the Ly Nam De Dynasty. Your journey continues to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which showcases the cultural heritage of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.

Hoa Lo Prison

After lunch, head to the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, originally used by French colonists to jail political prisoners and later by North Vietnam to detain US POWs during the war, earning it the nickname “Hanoi Hilton.”

The tour concludes with a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter. A cyclo is a bicycle cab with a red roof, pedaled by a driver who sits behind you, offering an unobstructed view of Hanoi’s old streets.

For an optional evening activity, experience a unique water puppet show, a tradition over 1,000 years old from the Red River Delta. The performance features puppeteers maneuvering intricately crafted wooden marionettes over water, dramatizing Vietnamese folk tales with musical accompaniment.

After the show, you’ll return to your hotel. Free for dinner.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.

In the morning, embark on a full-day guided eco-tour heading west from Hanoi to explore the picturesque Ba Vi countryside. Your first stop is Ri Village, where you’ll be greeted with welcome drinks and snacks by Mr. Duoc, a Vietnam War veteran and tea plantation owner. Listen to Mr. Duoc share stories about his life during the war and tour his workshop and tea plantation to learn the art of selecting the finest tea leaves.

Harvesting green tea leaves in Ba Vi

Next, take a short drive to Moc Village, where Mrs. Chin will teach you how to prepare Vietnamese dishes, which you’ll then enjoy for lunch in her lush tropical garden. After lunch, join Mrs. Chin on a walk around the village to visit local families and learn how to make tofu, conical hats, and other traditional regional products.

Conclude your tour with a leisurely bike ride through Vietnam’s iconic rice paddies, followed by a relaxing Muong herbal foot bath, before heading back to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi. Free for dinner.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.

Meet your driver this morning for the 3-hour drive east to the coast and Ha Long Bay. Situated on the Gulf of Tonkin, this stunning area features over 1,000 karst islets rising from jade waters, resembling the spine of a mythological creature (“ha long” means “descending dragon”). The unique beauty of this region has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Upon arrival at the marina, you’ll board a multi-level cruise ship for an overnight tour. After settling into your cabin, head to the deck for a delicious seafood lunch. Spend the afternoon relaxing on the sun deck as the ship glides across the glassy emerald waters to the bay’s most secluded corners. Later, you’ll stop at a secret cove for a swim and a kayak trip to explore hidden beaches and grottoes.

Return to the ship just in time for a cooking masterclass with the onboard expert chef. Learn to make traditional dishes like nem (Vietnamese fried spring rolls) and enjoy them for dinner. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing or join a small boat for some night fishing with the locals.

Overnight on the cruise.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide on boat, sightseeing fee, Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Wake up early and head to the deck to watch the sunrise over the bay, casting a golden glow on the water. Enjoy breakfast in the open air as you cruise past the towering karst islets. The rest of the morning is yours to relax and take in the scenery or join in optional activities like kayaking around Ha Long Bay’s famous floating villages.

Kayaking in Halong Bay

Afterward, enjoy an early lunch before disembarking at the marina and taking the road to your hotel in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide on boat, Meals: breakfast, brunch.

In the morning, our driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you to Noi Bai Airport for your flight south to Ho Chi Minh City, which lasts about two hours. Upon arrival, another driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon) is intriguing for its ability to maintain its cultural heritage and traditions despite a communist revolution, a devastating war, and rapid modernization.

Once you’ve settled in, feel free to venture out and explore the city at your leisure.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, Hanoi – Saigon air ticket, Meals: breakfast.

Today’s excursion takes you south of Ho Chi Minh City to the renowned Mekong Delta. Known as Vietnam’s rice bowl, this region boasts coconut groves, fruit orchards, and expansive green rice paddies. Upon reaching the delta, you’ll board a boat for a journey on the Ben Tre River, a tributary of the mighty Mekong. As you cruise, you’ll pass waterfront villages and visit local businesses, including a brick workshop and a honey farm. You’ll also have the chance to visit a local factory famous for producing coconut candies, where you can observe the production process and sample the treats.

Mekong Delta

The next stop is a small riverside village where you’ll have tea with a family that makes hand-woven rush mats. Then, you can choose to explore the area by bicycle or xe loi (moto cart), passing through picturesque rice fields, vegetable farms, and orchards.

After lunch at a riverside restaurant, you’ll switch to a smaller, traditional boat for a peaceful ride down one of the Mekong’s canals.

Finally, return to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon. Free evening.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.

In the morning, you’ll head to Tan Son Nhat Airport for a two-hour flight to Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand. This city, once the capital of the independent Lanna Kingdom from 1296 to 1558, boasts a rich cultural heritage, with remnants like ancient walls, moats, and Buddhist temples. Upon arrival, a driver will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel.

In the evening, explore Chiang Mai’s renowned wats (temples) to appreciate their enchanting beauty under the night lights. Begin at twilight with a visit to Wat Umong, a 700-year-old temple located in a forest at the base of Doi Pui mountain. Wat Umong is notable for its underground tunnels, a large stupa (shrine), and ancient Buddha statues.

Wat Umong

Next, visit Doi Suthep, the most famous temple in Chiang Mai. Ascend 306 steps lined with nagas (mythological serpents) to reach the temple complex. Inside, you’ll find a magnificent copper stupa topped with a five-tiered gold parasol, housing relics of Lord Buddha. From the temple, enjoy spectacular views of Chiang Mai illuminated below.

After the tour, you’ll return to your hotel.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, Saigon – Chiang Mai air ticket, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast.

Chiang Mai has become a favorite among visitors not only for its historical sites but also for its vibrant night markets and incredible street food scene. Today, you will have an entirely free day to discover everything this city has to offer.

Begin with a walking tour behind Chiang Mai’s ancient walls, exploring its Old City and famous landmarks like Wat Phra Singh, a 14th-century Buddhist temple. For shopping, head to San Kamphaeng Road, also known as “Handicraft Highway,” which stretches for 11 miles (18 km) and is the ideal place to buy artisanal crafts such as pottery and silverwork. When night falls, visit Chang Klan Road, which comes alive with merchant stalls and street food vendors.

Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai

If time allows, visit San Kamphaeng Hot Springs, about a 1.5-hour drive from the city center. This open-air spa features a geyser that shoots hot water 65 feet (20 m) into the air. It’s a fantastic spot to soak in mineral baths while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

For more adventure, travel a couple of hours from Chiang Mai to Bua Tong National Park, where you can enjoy a jungle hike and climb the famous “Sticky Waterfall.” The white stones of this cascade are hard and spongy rather than slippery, making them easy to climb.

Included: Accommodation and breakfast at the hotel.

Leave Chiang Mai at around 7 am for a 1.5-hour drive to an elephant sanctuary. Upon arrival, change into mahout (elephant caretaker) clothes and prepare for a fun-filled morning. You’ll spend time feeding, washing, and bonding with the elephants.

Spend a memorable day with rescued elephants near Chiang Mai

After a delicious Thai lunch, cool off in the on-site swimming pool and take in the mountain views. Later, join the elephants for a mud bath, then walk with them to the river where you can wash, swim, and play with them.

At the end of the day, you’ll bid farewell to your new friends and transfer back to Chiang Mai.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: breakfast, lunch.

Have breakfast at the hotel and enjoy your last minutes in Chiang Mai.

Upon the flight schedule, our driver will transfer you to the airport for a flight back home.

End of Vietnam Thailand in 11 days tour with unforgettable experience.

Included: Airport drop-off and breakfast at the hotel.